night time

USAGE SUMMARY

"night time" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to the time of day when it is dark outside. For example: "We love to play tag in the backyard during night time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Night time was a different matter, however.

Independent

"Night time could be frightening," he says.

The Guardian

Night time is the most magical.

The Guardian - Travel

Night time skywalks are also available.

The Guardian - Travel

The first one was at night time in Basra.

Independent

And all this at night time.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"I would drive by at night-time.

Independent

It's night-time.

The Guardian - Books

Lou roams night-time LA.

The Guardian - Film

It was Velma: a night-time name for a night-time broad.

The New York Times

They came back in the night-time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "night time" when referring to activities, events, or conditions that specifically occur during the night. For instance, "night time" is ideal for describing nocturnal animal behavior or sleep patterns.

Common error

Avoid using "night time" as a direct substitute for the prepositional phrase "at night". "At night" specifies when something happens, while "night time" acts as a noun. Instead of saying "I work night time", say "I work "at night"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "night time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject or object in a sentence. As supported by Ludwig, it is used to refer to the period between sunset and sunrise. It describes a specific duration, allowing it to specify when certain conditions or activities take place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "night time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It effectively denotes the period between sunset and sunrise across various contexts, including news, science, and formal writing. While interchangeable with alternatives like "night" or "after dark", it's important to distinguish its usage from the adverbial phrase ""at night"". Ludwig's analysis reveals that mastering "night time" enhances clarity and precision in your writing, making it a valuable addition to your linguistic toolkit. Embrace "night time" to paint vivid pictures of nocturnal settings and events, adding depth and texture to your narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

night

Shortened form, referring to the period of darkness.

after dark

Indicates the period following sunset.

evening

Refers to the period before night, often used interchangeably in some contexts.

nightfall

The onset of night.

dark hours

Emphasizes the darkness aspect of the night.

hours of darkness

Similar to "dark hours", highlighting the absence of light.

late hours

Refers to the later part of the night.

close of day

Marks the end of daylight.

dead of night

Emphasizes the deepest, quietest part of the night.

nightly

Adjective form, meaning occurring every night.

FAQs

How can I use "night time" in a sentence?

You can use "night time" to describe events or conditions occurring during the night. For example, "The park is beautiful during the "night time"" or "Night time is the hardest".

What's the difference between "night time" and "at night"?

"Night time" is a noun phrase referring to the period of darkness, while ""at night"" is an adverbial phrase indicating when something happens. Use "at night" to specify when an action occurs and "night time" to describe something related to the night period.

Is "nighttime" one word or two?

"Nighttime" is a valid one-word spelling of "night time", and both are acceptable. However, "night time" as two words is slightly more common in formal writing.

What can I say instead of "night time"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "night", "evening", "after dark", or "hours of darkness".